Rubio hosts Lebanese PM as US pushes for Lebanon-Israel peace deal

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to the State Department on Monday as Washington presses ahead with efforts to finalize an agreement between Beirut and Israel that would formally end their decadeslong state of war.

Rubio took over the Lebanon file under the Trump administration earlier this year, helping broker the first direct talks between Lebanon and Israel in decades.

Under Rubio’s auspices, the two countries reached an agreement aimed at ending Hezbollah’s armed presence and securing the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon. Neither objective has been fully achieved. Israel has carried out limited withdrawals from a few villages in southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah has reportedly handed over some military positions to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).

During the meeting, discussions focused on developments in Lebanon and the region, as well as the path to restoring Lebanon’s full sovereignty.

Salam’s office provided a readout after the meeting, saying the discussions focused on “the path to restoring Lebanon’s full sovereignty.”

“Prime Minister Salam emphasized that Lebanon looks forward to a renewed partnership with the United States that aligns with the project of rebuilding the state and strengthening its legitimate institutions,” according to the statement.

Salam also spoke of the need for clear timelines to implement the commitments under the framework agreement signed between Lebanon and Israel.

As per the Lebanese side’s readout of the meeting, Rubio affirmed Washington’s commitment to supporting Lebanon and its military.

For his part, Rubio said he reaffirmed US support as Lebanon implements the framework deal, which he called the “only path to a durable peace” with Israel. “The United States stands with a sovereign Lebanon, free from Hezbollah and Iranian influence,” Rubio added.